The Carolina Panthers are entering the regular season with confidence in Bryce Young’s development after an impressive training camp and a strong preseason performance against the Buffalo Bills. The second-year quarterback, who was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, demonstrated his progress by completing 6 of 8 passes for 70 yards, leading an 85-yard touchdown drive that culminated in an 8-yard touchdown pass to tight end Jordan Matthews.
While Young’s performance came against the Bills’ backups—head coach Sean McDermott rested his starters—it nonetheless provided reassurance to Panthers head coach Dave Canales that Young is moving in the right direction after a challenging rookie season. Last year, Young struggled, going 2-14 as a starter and ranking near the bottom of the league in most passing categories.
“Bryce’s focus and growth, particularly in mastering the concepts and improving his timing and rhythm, really stood out,” Canales said, reflecting on Young’s performance against Buffalo.
The Panthers coaching staff has emphasized the importance of footwork for their quarterbacks, and Canales noted that this emphasis was evident in the game.
“All those repetitive drills on footwork, they might seem tedious, but they pay off during the game,” Canales explained. “Bryce’s feet were set, and he delivered a perfect pass to Jordan Matthews for a touchdown because he trusted his footwork and was prepared to throw at the right moment.”
This preseason game marked Young’s first action after sitting out previous matchups against the New England Patriots and New York Jets. Canales was particularly impressed with Young’s play on a fourth-and-3 from Buffalo’s 46-yard line, where he scrambled out of the pocket, extended the play, and connected with Diontae Johnson for a 17-yard gain.
“That was a thing of beauty,” Canales remarked. “It’s something we’ve seen throughout camp, and it showed up in the game. Our receivers can learn to trust that if they keep working, Bryce will find them.”
Canales also praised third-string quarterback Jack Plummer, who completed 21 of 29 passes for 278 yards and two touchdowns against the Bills. Plummer’s strong performance has complicated the team’s decision on whether to keep a third quarterback on the roster.
As the Panthers prepare to make the majority of their roster cuts on Tuesday, Canales highlighted the wide receiver position as particularly competitive, calling it the “strongest group on the team.” Diontae Johnson, who was acquired in an offseason trade from the Pittsburgh Steelers, and Adam Thielen are expected to start, but first-round draft pick Xavier Legette from South Carolina and former second-round picks Jonathan Mingo and Terrace Marshall have also impressed during camp.
Wide receiver Ihmir Smith-Marsette, who is coming off a solid season and has shown promise as a returner, is dealing with a foot injury that could affect his roster status. He is scheduled to meet with a medical specialist this week.
Canales mentioned the possibility of the Panthers keeping seven wide receivers on the 53-man roster. “This group really showed up during camp,” he said. “Each one of them did something to catch our attention. We’ll have to carefully consider how many we can afford to keep at that position.”
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